Self-service apparatus



July 8, 1930. G. PosNlcK SELF SERVICE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-$11.681l

JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

llfll l|l||||||||||||TJ July 8, 1930. G. PosNlcK 1,770,042

slam4ax sERvIcE ARPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 we SSQ July 8,11930. G. PosNlcK SELF SERVICE APPARATUS Filed sept. 1s, 1924 Filed sept. 1e, 1924 a sheets-sheet 4 "July s, 1930.

-. c5. PosNlcK SELF SERVICE APPARATUS Filed sept. 1e, 1924 `8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

July 8, 1930. G. PosNlcK SELF SERVICE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 A TTORNEY.

' July 8, 1930. G. PosNlcK I SELF SERVICE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 I N V E N TOR. @veg-,74. WMM

A T TORNEY.

July8, 1930. G. PosNlcK I 1,770,042

SELF SERVICE APPARATUS Filed sept. 1e, '1924 8 sheets-sheet 8 A TTORNEY.

Patented July S, 1930 i .arras GEORG-E FOYSNIGK, BRQOKLYN,A NEVWYOR-K '.Appiieaiion ined esasperata 16, 1924; serial 110.738.079.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for serving food in restaurants or other eating places or what is sometimes termed self service outfits. 7

An object of the invent-ion is to provide a continuous traveling mechanism that will quickly serve food to Va large number of persons so that they will not Vbe long detained after giving their order. y Y

Broadly7 it comprises a continuously trav` eling belt member as an endless rope or like structure which is provided with suitably spaced devices for engaging a carrier member on whichthe food is placed. This carrier is designed to ben supported by and for traveling on a suitable track. The track is arranged adjacent several openings or windows, through which the person to be served receives the food which isV automatically brought to the windows by means of the continuously traveling rope. Means is provided for automatically causing the carrier on which the food is placed to assume a position of rest at a particularly designated window or opening a-swill be described.

Means is also provided for'causing the carriers to be automatically returned to the room where the i'ood is prepared after the custom# ers order has been served.

Means is further provided for automatically preventing a carrier being returned, if another one should happen to be located` on the track in a position that is immediately ahead of the second or other carriers. y

Further objects and nature of the invention will appear in the body of the specification and claims. f

Referring to the drawings r Fig. l is a side elevational view showing the general arrangement and location of the Dara tus with the parts in their normal pon7 and illustra-ting several stations where ne food is to be served. 'Y

2 is an end view of Fig. l taken on a plane represented by the line 2.*2 of Fig. l with some of the parts omitted showing the oppositely located travelling carrier. This view shows the food trays and carrier located opposite one of the delivery windows or openings.

track for supporting theV Fig; 8 is a view similar to F ig. l with the mechanism `omitted and showing only the openings through which the food is deliv- K ered.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail viewl` showing the operative parts adjacentl one of theserving openings or windowsandwith the vparts in full lines which represent their normal positions, the dotted lines representtheir sec-` ond positions. l f

Fig. 5 is a View showing the position of the parts after a carrier has moved down the curved track and assumed a position of rest opposite one of the openings. The full lines representing the normal position and the dotted lines, position after the carrier has come to rest and the carrier looking mechanismr has been operated.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the carrier shaft showing the arm thereon for adjustment in different longitudinal positions on-the shaft for the purpose of causing the carrier to be conveyed tothe proper window openinfr.

Fig. v7 is a detail view of the upper end of the mechanism for operating a switch part ot the track and `for elevating the endless rope from its normal traveling position upward, and a stop for a carrier.

lig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the operative position.

Fig. 9 is a frontelevational and partial view ot the carrier in a position when the rope is being elevated. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the locking mechanism in full and dotted lines Vfor retaining the carriers against movement by the belt when there is a carrier ahead of it. Figs. il, 12,' and 13 are detail views vof the device for automatically depressing the carrier rope, when it is desired to retain the carrier in a position to prevent its traveling forward and interfering with another carrier. c

vFig. la is a view showing the normal position and the parts that operate the switch section of the track and the carrier Alocking devices.

shows the position of the parts at the time when by the operation of the carrier the switch has been moved and locked.

Yerativeposition and loc-ks the .carrier locking devices.

Figs. 17, 18, and 19-arefdetailhviews Vof structures j'which cooperate withjthe parts kshown-in Figs. 14, l5, and16 whena'carrier enters andipasses down the curvedpartof the track.

Fig. 2() is an enlargedv detailview showing the parts connected with the locking mechanism illustrated in Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,

Y*ofthe parts s hownin Fig. 20.

and 19 vfor operating the locking device in.v

advancev `of the carrier and for elevating the rope-for bringing thefcarrier, to rest.

I 4 F1g.-21 is a deta l view of another positionv Fig. 22 is aview showing the connecting mechanism between the locking latch anda' movable part ofthe track in their normalv position in front-of one of the openings .of

thesection of track at an opening.

Fig..23 is aside view of the parts in one position.; .Y y a Fig. 24 is an end view of Fig. 23 illustratn ing the .locking positions of the locking' dei vice andthe end ofthe spring actuated latch passinglaround the shoulders of thetrack portion.V Y

Fig.y25 is anotherviewof the parts shown L in Fig.` 23.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged detailjview in pen spective` showing the locking piate passing around the shoulders of the'track portion at an opening.

Fig. 27V is a view illustrating the carrier i' f and the vtwo supportingtracks'and.illustrating indottedlinesthe adjusted position of the part on the carrier for causing the car# as desired. L i AFig. 28 is a side elevational view of Fig. 27 on the line 28-28 of Fig. 2 7.

Fig. 29 is a detail view of the ineniber for supporting the'trays or dishes on which thc riers to go to thegdiferent serving stations,

Fig; 30 is a detail view ofone of the supporting.. wheels on which the endless belt i which operates theswitch section of the tracks. Y i Y Y Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the panel or partition Vboards of the restaurant `or other rooni where the food is to be served having Va series of open-- ings in 'this partition. 2maydesignate the4 point where the food is prepared and thel remaining openings where it is to be delivered orserved.` The .view in Fig. 1 shows the mechanism arranged adjacent one ofV the serving` openings having the reference numeral 5. The upper runwayportion of the main trackis' designated at 8 and the lower main portion at 9. The maintrack is provided with a inovabler sectionlO opposite jA each ofthe delivery openings and the track 9 -vis provided wit-hva" movablesection 11 at each of the openings.` Cooperating with the upper and lower portions of the main track are the switch sections 12, and 13. 14 is an --S shaped portion "of track at each of the openings 3, 4, V5, etc, the upper end o f `which has pivotally 'connected thereto Vthe. switch sections12 at 12 and its lower end the switch sections 18 at 13.` (See Figs. 4 and 3 2.) Passing aroundthe upper land lower portions'offthe main track 8 and 9 is the traveling belt 15 which is supported on the four wheels 16, adetail of oneY of which-is shown in Figs. 30 and 31. These wheels are mounted onv shafts 17 and are .formed with the e spoke. portions in the Vouter ends of which are the grooves 17 forreceiving and supporting the traveling belt 1 5. A suitable motor 18 is connected to 'a' shaft on which one ofthe wheels V16 is secured. The upper and lower trackways 8 and 9 are formed -T shaped as` illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 24, 32, and 27 The carrier 19 that runs on this trackway` as shown in the enlarged views in Figs. 27 and 28isprovided with the four rollers 21, 22, 23, and 24, two of which are located above and twobelow the tread portions 25 of the track. 26 is a plate to which the roll ers are attached bylineans of the pins or shafts 27. Secured to the plate 26 is a rod 28. On the outer endof this rod is secured the plate 29 to which is secured the carrier rollers 30. and 31. These rollers travel on the oppositely located -T shaped track 32 whereby the foodcarri'er19 is firmly supported at both of its ends. Located on he shaft 28 is a hook Ineniber 33 which turns loosely on this shaft and secured to the shaft is ablock 34 having the shoulder 35 against which the hook ineniber 83 engages when in norinal position for.r retaining the tray sup porting member 36 against swinging move ment but perlnits it to turn on the shaft 28 when the carrier 19 passes down the inclined' curved portion 14", andthe curved section 12. Attached to the plate 26 is an upwardly extending part 37 having the two slots 38 and 39. The slot 39 being wider than the slot 38. The endless traveling conveyor belt 15 is designed to-be received in these slots. TWhen the rope is in the-narrow slot 38 the knots 40 of Athe belt 15 will engage the plate 37 at the sides of this slot and cause the carrier to be 'drawn along the trackway 25. YWhen thc rope is in the wide slot 89, the knots will pass l spring 83, lower 76 is formed with Y a" flat horizontal .tread part 76 onto Vwhich the-.upper rollers 21 and 22passgwhen the "carrier 19 enters the track section 14 opposite the food deliverycwindow5, for example. 1 This ,operation will have the result of lower-V ing or bringing ,the -'-.V- shapedV stop 78V into the path of the food `carrier `19 at; which point thev customerfis served- `When a food carrier comes to rest on the latsur-face 76, of

the lowerarm 76-its` `weight'will cause'tlie` first or other `.V- shaped carrierstop 77` toV bel simultaneously depressed or carried down- 1 wardvinto thedotted line position, as shown in,F ig. 5. Thecarrier which is nowresting von the lowerar'm76oflever 74therefore operates, or s ervesras a 'stop for bringing'to rest asecijnd carrier by causing'the -V- f shaped'member 77 `to'simultaneously assume its lowered .position against the action o fthe spring 83. `lloi'vvwhen' the next or a follow ing food carrier arrives, it will beheld back Y by the --,V- shaped stop 77;` whereit restson the flat ledge part 634 of the lever 63 with the `result that itslforward or left hand end is thrown upwardfintothe dotted-line posi- After the customer has been served'at the tionlshown in Figs. 4, 5, 'and 22. @When this occurs, the inclined surfaceg66 of the part 66 on the pivoted member'58 will inovefthe lower end of the'extension '55of Vthe lever 52 Vtowardsthe right hand and the upper endcof lever'52 towardsthe left hand thus moving' theshoulder 53 away from the end 50 of the rod 42ipermittingfthe spring 54 to return the lever 52 to its, normal or full line position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and the track'sections 10 and 12 into .their full line positions, see Fig, 4. `The rod 42 is again moved upward by the spring 422,)(see Fig. 22).`

Vf- Vshaped carrier stop,` 7 8 hemay push the empty food carrier 19 towards the right hand and away from or olf the lower arm 76 of the two armed'lever 74 permitting the .carrier to move by gravity down the curved this stop about pin 81thus sliding bar 59 'towards the right hand.

This bar lwill throughthe pin 71 rotate stop 77 and pull a carrier alongon 634. and onto 76. 'The spring 69 resets'these parts thus again setting the --V-'shaped stop 77 in order to Vbring another carrier to rest at 77. 1

In the normal operationof the device as# sume that thereis no carrier at the serving windowH indicated at 5. A carrier arrives `which iisdesigned'for this window ,fthe part 43 engages 49, as already described, and causes the carrier 19 to pass downward onto the track section'14. If there is not a carrier at this section it simply rolls onto the end 634 of the lever 63 where it is stopped by 7 7 This operation will throw the pivoted link member 58 upward when the-lever extension 55 will be locked by the part 66. The r'od 42 will be ,locked under the shoulder 53 of the lever 52. `Vhen'the carrier leaves'the end 634 lever 63 will be drawn downward by the spring 68, causing Vthe lever 52l tobe unlocked, see Figs. 14, 15,*andA 16. If a carrier remains on the end 634c of the lever 63 then the lever 52 is locked and anotherorfollowing carrier cannot be admitted to this section, sinceit would be held backby the device shown at'thefupper lefthandl side of the lever 52 which com- Vprises the following elements: 84 is Vagwire that is Ipivotally secured to a support by means of the staples 85, the upper end of which isformed with a crank part 86, and its lower end is secured to a block 87 in which Vis placed the turnablemember 88 having the depending part 89 and the vupper bent end -88Ywhich is for elevating the traveling belt 15 when a carrierris Anot to be moved. the lever 52 isrmoved into the dotted line position by the parts 43, 49, and 51 the olfset part 90 on the upper end of lever 52 will kengage the crank part 86 of the wire 84 and VYmoved to an inclined position beneath the belt 15, (see Figs. 4,5, and 8). The depending part 89 will then be struck by the part 37 of the carrier and moved into the vertical dotted position, (see Fig. 8) which will operateto prevent the passage of a following carrier by elevating the belt into the wide slot 39. The bent part 88 engages the lower side of the traveling conveyor belt 15 of the rod.

the depending part 89 and raising the bent end 88A since this results in permitting the knots40 to pass freely through the enlarged slot 39 in the part 37 of the carrier 19, (see Fig. 21); Y rlhe following carrier that is held backnby the stop 89 is now permitted to be drawn along by a knot 40 on the belt 15 onto its designated switch section 12. When the stop 89 isset it is so connectedthat it may automatically set a stop for the next followq When 37 into the dotted line position 37. 4

eration will cause the part 88 to turn in the ing carrier which .is to' come to rest, say at window 5 but for the time being the track at releasedby the stop 89 will pass directly un` der the elevated -V- shaped stop V77 and onto thisl lever. The mechanism for carrying outV this operation is as follows: 90 designates a slidable bar thatis retained in place on a liked support by the clips 91. n 92 is a spring for normally retaining it in the position shown at the left of Fig. 20. The bar 90 is connected to the link 93 with the pin 9a which link is pivotally connected to the bent rod 95 that is secured to the block 96. When a toodcarrier indicated at 19 in Fig. 21, arrves'the parts l1, 42, 52 will operate to set the parts as before described.v VrThe knots l0 will engage the plate 87 at the nafrv row slot 38. The cable 15 will move the plate This op# block 87 and its lower end 89 moved into engagement with the slidable bar 90 as shown 1n Fig. 21 from its position 1n Fig. 20, then,

as the carrier is moved from the full to thev will now be returned to their normal original positions to permit a carrier; or` carriers to proceed on the main track StoV their several 1t should K destinations as windows at 6 or 7, be stated that thereV are two or more stops be-w tween each serving opening for the carriers on the main trackas there are food stations. The three positions of the parts at A, B,

and C of Fig. 20 shows the beginning and ending of the movement of these parts.

In order to operate the stops on the return tracky 9, it is necessarythat the bar 59 be moved longitudinally. This bar is, as shown in Figs.- 1, 4, 5, and 10 loosely connected at its right hand end to a lever 97 by means of the slot and pin construction 98. This lever is pivoted at 98 to a fixed support. A spring 97 normally retains the pin 98 at the left` hand end of the slot. The lever 9.7 is pivotally connected to the lever 99 at 100. This lever is pivotallyv connected to a fixed support at 101. The lower end of lever 99 is connected to a link 102. This link is connected to the crank part 103 of a rod 104.- which is se-L cured to the block 105. The rod 101 is rotatably mounted in the fixed clips 106. Rd tatably` mounted in the block 105 is a bent rod 107 having the oppositely extending ends 108 and 109. The arm 108 is ior engaging andmoving the slidable bar which is 5 normally retained in a retracted position by rope.

the spring 111.r It is slidably attached to a Xed support by the clips 112. The har 110 is operated inthe directionindicated bythe' arrow 110 by theend 108 of the rod 107 when the non; 105 is aimed bythei-Od iol, link ,o

102, levers 99, 98, andk bar59. The rcrank end 109 is operated at the same time tor en-` gage and move fthe traveling rope 15 downf ward when it is desired to remove -the rope from the narrow passage 38 to the Y larger one 3901i the carrier 19to permit knots 40ct the rope 15 to passffreely througlrthe widerslot without moving the carrier whenit is de` si red to hold it back because of other vcarriers being in their' way at the Sametime.y kThe barf110 operates to hold back carriers which maybe-approaching an opening, as V5 from vthe right hand returntrack 9,;s`o that acar-y rier that'may at that time be passing-down the lcurved track 1412 at the -ood serving opening 5 to the main return rack 9 can be returned to the supply opening 2. It isV neces sary to operate carrier stops from the left hand end of an opening asp, as vw'ellas at its right hand end to prevent anyv interterence of the food carriers on the return track. For this purpose the link bar 113 is provided which is connected to the crank part1011. The link 118 rotates the block 114 by means of the rod 115 which in turn moves the end 116` against the carrier plate 8T and, at the same time moves the traveling rope 15 downward into the 'dottedpositiom (sere Fig. 10)..

y'This operation therefore permits,r the food carriers at the left handl `sides of the opening 5 to be heldfrombeingdrawn along by the V vAt the same timethe end 117 moves the bar118, link 119, crank 10112.

^ *1t should be stated that theblock 111rnay be setoroperated either from the'next pre-A ceding tood serving station by the link 118, which station' is a duplicate of `that `shown in Fig. 10, or, the block 1141- may bevoperated from the link 102 and connected parts with 59, (see Fig. 1). A springV 118 normally lretains the slide 118 inits lnormal position. Y

Tn order to set the carrier stop devices shown in Figs. 10 to 18 inclusiveV to hold backV a carrier on the return track 9 at a station reference should now be made to Fig. 4. 119 designates aflatch which is ypivoted at 120. 122isa spring for retaining the latch` in the full line position with its lower curved end 121 connected'to the end of the slidable link 102. In the full line position the stop 109 is in a position to permit a carrier to pass along on the track 9. This latch there-A oreretains the food carrier stops at `the ydifferent stations in a locked and immovable position. 1n order toxoperate the latch 119 and thelink 102 the upper rollers 21and 22 of the foo-d carrier 19 as it passes by gravity downl the curved track portion 1412, (see Fig. 4l) engages the latch 119V and moves its lower end towards the left handand against the tensin 'of spring-istanti iam-he sostenne position.V AReferringnow to. the -operation` l ofthestops onthe returntrack'9` when af car-- rier, is jpassingdowiifthe* curved track k12?;

i i t parts 43,49,42fand`,51. Since the link mem-Y assume itsnormalposition. Lever 52'is new.

*init-s dottedlineposition.V lWhen this action is' taking place, the carrier V,on themain track: that is about to come down to the station onV i. the carrier pass down the curved track 14:2" '6e Assuming the situation of a carrier4 "19,k in st op77 8 and resting onmember 76 but there is nof'carrieron the `endf` at'stop 7 7. In

this situation the link`58is in itsY normal orv full lineposition. AAssume a carrier ontrack 8 vis V approaching What isintend'edfor` the station, lever 52 Awill be operated bythe ber 58 is now in the full lineposition, the lower endof the extension will simply passover this linkfmeniber `without engagingA the same, andi, therefore,the *bar 59 will not be -moved1 or operatedf'Thesame operation would occurfif therefwas no carrier; atall atV ,this-station.;V .zo

Assume now the condition thatthere ,are -tw-o carriers at this station at stops 7T-and 78 respectivelyg'one resting on 634 and theothe'r on 76.` Link 5,8 wiill"`now bei' held in the raised; dotted .line position. When a carrier intendedvfor thissame station? arrives on track 8 it willoperate lever'52as before. The extendedpart 55 will engage the end `6 and 'slide or move the bar59 towards theV righthalid. L This operation will through the 3G pins 71`and172 simultaneously turnthefstops 7' 7 and 78 and move the two' carriers onto the curved track 142. Thejlever 63 will new track l2yeausesfthezoperation ofthe 'parts i associated withftlielever 52.l `Vhen this 124, see Fig. 4. This is accomplished by the pivoted track section leveri that is pivoted at 126, Its left hand'end is normally down in the full line and righthand normallyl ui in dotted line. vA latch 127 will retain the 'lever 125 in its dotted linelocked upward pcfv sitionby meansof thenotched end 125 in,

the end 'of lever125 andspring 127.i 4The j lever 125 is pivotally connectedto the carrier v locking bar 1,23 at 128. When the rollers of its weight forces the'curv'ed switch 13 downward into the `full lin'e`, and rforces the track section 11 downward into the dotted fline. vThis operation'permitsthe carrier from opening 5 to pass `ontothe main return track 9 where it is caught/by the rope v15 iand re- 14?. `the return track 9 it will pass this-station ings, as 5 to pass `freely down the curved.

time.

turned [to itsstarting-pointed" VWhen the curvedsection of track lf3 is lowered the sec-4 tion 1-1 is also `loweredby means of the link connectionllfliinto*the dotted position. f In Vorder to permit any carrier on the main re turntrack@Ito proceed a guide raillll3 is providediorthe roller to run on. The spring 1112 willv return the track section 111 to its normalfull line upward position after a carrier has beenVl moved-over the same. The tension of the spring Vlll is such that it is slightly stronger than the weight of the parts 1l and 13.4V `lthena carrier is passing onithe track 9, with tie stop'ldown, it will engage the right hand end' of lever `125, and force thelert hand end upward against the tension of spring 124e. This willf permit a carrieronftrack 9 to return andprevent a carrier on track 1st `from passingdown track Should a `carrier arrivent station 5 on byengaging thefo'uard raily 1113 without being derailed.` The rail section 11 is at this instant in its lowered or dotted position.

W hen the carrier r-uns onto the guide rail its rollers will engage the under side of thernii section 11 and immediately raise or elevate the same into the full line position which will be in alignment withthe Vrail 9 thus permit# tingthe earrierto proceed past station 5 for example.` Y

' VVVhatI claim isz:y A

` 1. In a servinvapparatus, the combination with a main trackway termed as a loop', a n 1. rality of serving stations, shunt tracks lead* ing to the stations, a food conveying carrier adaptedl to travel on the trackway, means for directing` the carrier to anyone' of the several stations and independent or the other stations and Vcomprising a pivoted lever formed with aninclined surface anda lock- Ving shoulder, a shaft rotatably mounted.

rod attached to the shaft orengaging the inclined surfaceo the lever and the shoulder for moving the same rwhen the shaift 'is n tated, a depending part on the shaft, an adjustable arnion thev carrier designed to cul gage the part, means ior moving the carrier whereby when the carrier is moved-against the said part, the shaft and thelevcr will be operated and locked, a pivoted section in the main track, al pivoted section inthe shunt track,v and cooperating` means between the shaft`,the lever, and the sections for retaining the sections in piace when arcarrier moves onto the shunt track. i

2. In combination, a'inain 'trackway haring an outgoing and a return portion, a carA rier designed forr travel thereon, a servingl station, 'a trackway leading thereto, 1 ivoted section in the main trackway and inthe trackway leading to the serving` station, said sections being connected together iorsiniuh al neous motion'7 an adjustable arm member on the carrier, ashaiha depending' part on the n section.

, stop mechanism operated. by the leve a "1r tac aft,

shaft` and located in the path yot tl". member on the cari-icil tor operati shaft, connecting means between the e and the sections,`a lever having an inclinati surface and a shoulder portion, a rod on the shaft toroperating the lever when the rml is moved against the inclined surface and izito engagement with the Ashoulder and c venting thepassage of carriers on tl' trackway, when a carrier to station. y

3. In a selt service apparatus, a main track having outgoing and return' portions, a plurality of service stations, a section'of track located at each of the stations, said vsections ot track being arranged ybetween the outgoing and return portions of the track, movable track sections attached to the track portions to receive a carrier from the main track- Ways, means tor operating the track sections which cooperates With the outgoing main trackiva f to move the track section into alignment with the main trackivay for directing a carrier to a station, each or said sections beingoperated by the carrier, adjust` able means ona carrier for determining which track section Will be operated by the carrier, means for preventing a carrier entering track section after a predetermined nmnbe1 of carriers. have already entered the track section, means for permitting the carrier to leave the track section and be moved onto the main return trackway, and means tor preventing the carrier-trom moving on the main trackivay when a carrier is leaving the track ln combination, a pivot-ed lever, a link member operated from the pivoted lever, the` link member having an elongated slot to per mit the lever to move thereon, slidable bar to which the link member is pivotally attached, the link member having o-ppositely located portions to receive the end of a secf. ond lever tor operating the said bar, the second lever being actuated by a. movable carrier, the carrier being designed to actuate the iirst mentioned lever and to actuate the link member to lock the secondinentioned lever, the construction and arrangement being such that when the lirstv mentioned lever is actin' ated the second mentioned lever Willbe reby the carrier for. disengaging the cable from thenarrovvslot to permit it to move freely through the Wide slot, whereby the carrier is tprevented rom.moving on the trackvvay, said means comprising a pivoted lever 'formed with a projection, a rotatable member having a part thereon which is en-v gaged by the projectionon` the lever for ro tating the member, cooperating means tween they member and the lever, means actuated by the member for engaging the rope r conveyor for elevating .the same, when the carrier vis to be held against movement.

6;' ln a eeltl serving apparatus, the combif nation, an outgoing and returning `looped track portion, a carrier adapted tor, movement on vthe track portions, an endless cable for actuating thecarrier, a plurality of serving stata-ons, anV -shaped section of ltrack Which extends vertically from one track to the other with the main outgoing and returning portions each station, a section oit the main track having aV pivoted part at the entrance end and a pivoted portion at the exit end of the outgoing and returningV lor.- tions oi the traclnmeans actuated by a carrier on the outgoing movement for moving the pivoted section in the main voutgoing portion whereby the carrier may be directed onto the cross connected tracksection, adjustablev means on the carrier for determining to WhichH station the carrier will be shunted ed by the cross sections.V

7.. ln combinati-on, a shunt track section, a

or directtvvo arniedy lever pivoted adjacent the track section, the lower arm being designed to re-v ceive a carrier, the upper `arm having -,V- shaped carrier stop devices pivotally attached thereto, a slidablebar, pins'mounted von the bar tor operating the stop devices, a-second leverterminating near thelovver -armof the tvv-o armed lever, the second lever being piv otally connected to the ysliding bar by means ot a ,link having an elongated slot to receive a portion of the second lever, the link member having a plurality of shoulders, an oper able lever for engaging the shoulders, said operable Alever being actuated by a carrier and other means actuated by the carrier i'or directing the carrier onto the track section andv also onto the second mentioned lever Where llO is retained by a -V-'- shaped stop and in"y case a second carrier is directed onto the second mentioned lever the carrier thereon will be moved onto the two armed lever, and the -V- shaped members moved to acar-V rierlocking position, as described.

8. ln combination, a trackway, a carrier therefor, comprising a plate, rollers carried by the plate'tor `engaging the trackivay, an upwardly extending part on the plate tormedrvith a. slot having parallel side edges of diierent Widths and depths, an endless' conveyor having projections for engaging.

the side of the plate, or, for passing throughV the Wider and upper part or" the slot, for the purpose i of moving the 'carrier along the trackway, or releasing said carrier".`

\ 9. In combination,`a lever formed with anv inclined surface and a locking shoulder, ,a rockable shaft, a rod'secured to the shaft for engaging the inclined surface for moving the lever. and afterit leaves saidsurtaceto en- '4 gage vthefshoulder,.and means for operating theshaft,comprising a carrier, a track for thecarrler, a cablefor moving the `carrier on `the track, a partV on the carrier for operating the rockable shaft., andmeans operatedby the; carrier for releasing o the 'rod on the shaft from the shoulder. u. I

1 0. In combination, a lever,-an extension pivotally connected thereto, a `pivoted llink "member formed with a locking part :for the extension, a leverv connected to the link member, la trackvvay throughvvhich the Ilever passes, a carrier for the. trackWay `and. en

gaging the llever-for disengaging the exten* sionfrom the'lo'ckingvp'art` v 11. In combination, `a looped trackway, a

plurality of service stations, carriers on the trackvvay, a cable for operating the. carriers,

' means; for' independently Vdirecting different carriers to diiierent stations, and meansv 'for automatically. preventing the diiierent carl riers Vfrom interfering with" each other onA their;` return, Vmeans comprising aseries of connected vlinks", l crank members operated by the links, bearing blocks operated vby crank. members, tvvo ,Varmed members rpivotally.

i mounted in the blocks for engaginglthe cable for'moving--the same` away'from the carriers to render them inoperative', ajs'described.

12. serving devicecomprising 'a looped track, carriers thereon, 'a cable for operating 1 the carriers, means-forsimultaneously disencarrier, Whichinfturn operates apart thatl gagingjtlie cabl'ejfrom one or more of the carriers, consisting of a lever engaged by the lifts or depresses thefcable .away from the carrier depending Whether thev carrier is lout.

goingor returning.

13. In combination, inaself serving appa4 ratus, a mainjand returntrack, aV carrier,a

` serving station between said tracks, a lever at the station ontowhich a carrier isadapted to run, a second leveratIthestation,acarrier `stop device movably attached to the second lever for retaining a carrier kat rest on thefirst lever.

14. In combination, in al self serving ap'- paratus, a mainand return track, a carrier, a

Vserving stationv between'` said tracks, a lever at the station onto \vhich a carrier is adapted to run, a second lever at thestation, a carrier stop" device movably attached to the second lever for retaining a carrier atrestonthe first lever, and means for operating the sec#` ond lever for moving` a carrier from the first lever and from the stop.

15. 'In combination,`in a self serving apparatus,-"a main. andva return track, a serving station, a carrier for thertr'ack, means for riers on the track portions, laterally movable adjustable means on the carriers Jor directing different carriers to diilerentserving stations, means nior preventing a carrier from leaving a service station when one is passing that station on the return track portion.

1?; Incombination, in `ai self serving apparatus, af looped track having main andreturn track portions arranged one above the other,` a plurality of, serving stations along vthe lower track, carriers :adapted to run on thesaid track portions, an endless cord means for moving the4 carriers on saidgportions, laterally 'movable means Jfor directing different. carriers to Vdii-ferent stations, meansV for preventing atcarrier rom'leaving a station when a carrier is passing that station on the returntrack portion, said means comprising a'slidable bar, a lever.V attached tothe barand located on the return trackportion,

' and means `for returningthe bar to its normally inoperatl ve position.

18. Incembination, in a self servingap paratus, a loopedl track having main and return track portions, a serving station, a y

shunt track section,lconnecting the serving station with the main and return .portions1 Whichgis normally disconnected from said portions, a carrier, means operated by the carrier itself for connectingthe sliunttrack section ot the serving stationV to the main return track, and means operated by the carrier toprevent a second carrier'from en tering the station until the iirstV one in the section is removed froin'the station.

19. In a seli:` serving apparatus, the coinbination, oi a main and return track, a car- Ariei adapted for movement thereon. means for operating thecarrier, a servingstation,

two. leversat the station, one being '-U- shaped to provide a tread part; for a carrier to engage and rest thereon and a part for attaching carrier stop devices to the saine,

the other leverfhaving a treadV surface forV the carriers to engage and rest thereon, means controlled by the second lever for removing the carriers from the serving station, and means operated by a carrier for operatingthecarrier removing means from the station. i

20. A device for the purpose described, comprising in combination, a receiving sta tion, a member to receive a carrier, means for retaining the carrier on the member, a

link pivotally connected to the member, a

main track for the Carrier, means for directing a carrier from the main track to the station, means operated by the carrier to remove a carrier already on the member therefrom by the following carrier, and means for resetting the carrier retaining means after a carrier has been removed.

2l. In an apparatus for the purpose de` scribed, a receiving station, tvvo pvotally-attached members, each having a at part to receive a' carrier, -V- shaped carrier stop devices pivotallykattached to one of said members, a slidable bar for operating the said stop devices, the other of said members being operatively connected to the bar, means for operating the carrier, means actuated by the carrier for operating the car` rier, means actuated by the carrier for operating the bar to canse the removal of a carrier Which may be located on the-other said member in order to make room for itself to rest on the at part, and means for returning the bar to its normal position.

GEORGE POSNICK. 

